Casa Talamantes

Furniture pieces come in unpainted from the Mexican state of Michoacán; the store then custom finishes them to fit your color whims. $125 (unfinished) to $165 (finished, green with red patina pictured).

Hanayagi The Japanese Garden Shop

If you're gonna have a Japanese garden, this picture-filled primer is the perfect place to start. It'll take you step-by-step through design and maintenance and give you ideas of what other tools and accessories you need from Hanayagi. $29.95.

Want It: Bamboo fountain

Easy-to-assemble water features can be rigged to empty into pools, ponds or decorative stone bowls, giving your backyard oasis just the right touch of Tokyo. $48 to $55 (small), $89 to $99 (large).

--Devin D. O’Leary

Arteriors

A handcrafted metal box by Dallas artist Jan Barboglio is an essential holiday gift for homeowners. Inside is a decorative card, a guardian angel icon and a nail with which to hang it (preferably near a front door for continued protection). $73.

Want It: Carved wooden saint

Arteriors' "Old World Mexican hacienda eclectic" style is reflected in its range of statuary, which goes from a detailed, life-sized Christ (at $1,500) to simple, unpainted 2- to 3-foot santos. $80 and up.

--Devin D. O’Leary

Hobby Proz

Thanks to its tiny size (one ounce!), swappable parts (see below!) and newbie-friendly control system (based on cutting-edge cell phone technology!), Hobby Proz has had a hard time keeping this crazy-fun indoor helicopter from flying off its shelves. $129.99.

Want It: Glow-in-the-dark upper main blade set

One cool thing about the Blade mCX is it can be customized with loads of cheap parts, including glow-in-the-dark accessories. $3.99 and up.